Dupage Policy Journal

Sen. Laura Ellman wants her constituents to know about a program run by the Illinois Treasurer's office to make college more affordable.

"Illinois First Steps can help you start your child’s college savings through Bright Start or Bright Directions with a $50 seed deposit," Ellman posted on Facebook. "Children born or adopted on or after Jan. 1, with parents who are residents of Illinois are eligible."

Ellman shared a link to the Bright Directions page for the Illinois First Steps program in her Aug. 3 Facebook post. According to the website, parents who live in Illinois can receive a seed deposit for $50 from Illinois First Steps for children born or adopted on or after Jan. 1. The funds can be used for college, technical school or apprenticeship education opportunities. To claim the funds, a parent must open a Bright Directions 529 or Bright Start college savings plan account, then must claim the $50 seed deposit from Illinois First Steps on or before the child’s 10th birthday. The Bright Directions program is for those who work with a financial advisor, and the Bright Start program is a self-directed program.

The Illinois First Steps program goes back to 2019, when lawmakers approved a college savings incentive program. Legislators set aside $2.5 million for the program, according to the Morning Sentinel. The publication also reported that changes championed by State Treasurer Michael Frerichs have helped the Bright Start and Bright Directions 529 programs to grow from $7 billion in 2015 to more than $17 billion in 2023.

The price of a four-year college education “will grow to unprecedented levels,” according to the Illinois Treasurer’s webpage for the Bright Start program. A graphic on the website estimates that four years at a public college would cost a family $89,521, while a private college could cost up to $202,360, but in 18 years, it might grow to $205,184 for public colleges or $463,814 for private colleges. The website features a calculator that parents can use to estimate how much they’ll need for college, and the website notes that funds can be used for tuition, room and board, books and supplies and computers and software for students.

Ellman was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 2019. A Democrat, her legislative experience includes serving on the Agriculture Committee and Appropriations I Committee. Ellman is a state senator who resides in Naperville, according to the Illinois Senate.